Submarine mine



Sept. 2 1924.

E. A. SPERRY SUBMARINE MINE Filed Sept. 21 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. A. SPERRY SUBMARINE MINE Sept. 2 1924.

. 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21

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v IIF w E/ME/g /LSPEHRX 1 /7 4 7 v am Sept. 2, 1924. 1,506,784

E. A. SPERRY SUBMARINE. MINE Filed Sept. 21 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Sept. 2 1924. 1,506,784

E. A. SPERRY SUBMARINE MINE Filed Sept. 21 1917 4 Sheets-Shet 4 l lmlm INVENTOI? flMif/QSPEPRX M15 7 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES ELMER A. SPERBY, or nnooxmm, NEW YORK.

SUBMARINE MINE.

Application filed September 21, 1917. Serial No. 192,571.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, ELMER .A. SPERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1505 .-'\lhcmarle Road, Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sulunarinc Mines, of which the following is :1 specification.

This invention relates to submarine mines of the type adapted when released to anchor itself at a predetermined distance below the surface of the water.

The object of the invention is to design a contact mine of this character which may be launched from an ordinary torpedo tube in a submarine boat and which will automatically anchor itself at a predetermined depth irrespective of the depth at which it was released from the submarine.

A further object of the invention is to improve upon the construction of mines of this character by rendering premature explosion thereof impossible.

Further objects of the invention and advantages thereof will appear in the following specification.

Referring to the drawings in which what I now consider the preferred forms of my invention are illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View showing the various positions assumed by the mine as it is launched from a submarine. In this drawing the size of the mine is greatly exaggerated as compared to the size of the submarine to illustrate the various positions assumed by the former more clearly.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a lower portion of the mine showing in full the anchor portion and lower part of the buoyant or explosive portion.

Fig. 2 is a view of the upper part of the buoyant or explosive portion of the mine.

Fig. 2 is a detail of a part of the anchor illustrating the method of locking the reel by a falling weight.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the firin mechanism of the mine.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the small anchor or mud hook at the bottom of the mine taken on line 66, Fig. 2

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of one form of the weight or mass used to lock the relay.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of'the arrow.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the soluble block used to hold the two portions of the mine together.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the inertia device normally coiled within the buoyant portion of the mine, being a section on line 10-10 of F ig.'2

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the top portion of the mine showing the method of attaching the spring arms of an umbrella attachment.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of a modified form of actuating weight or mass.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section of a portion of Fig. 12 showing the mechanism in the position which it assumes when the weight is falling.

Fig. 14 is a detail plan view of a portion of the said locking mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing the inertia device in an expanded position in which it is rotated through 90 from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the hooks used for holding the two portions normally together.

Fig. 17 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 18 is a section on line 1818 of Fig. 17.

According to this invention, the mine proper and anchor are designed as a unitary structure comprising an upper buoyant portion 1, adapted to contain the explosive charge 2, and lower anchor portion 3 which portions are separable at A (Fig. 2

My device is preferably designed to fit within an ordinary torpedo tube represented at 4 in Fig. 1 so that themine may be discharged by the present type of submarines without alteration.

The two portions of the mine are detacha-bly secured together by means such as hooks 5 pivoted at 6 to the anchor portion and engaging over lug 7 on the buoyant portion.

Preferably the said hooks are pivoted on the resilient rod or cable 6' which extends around the inner-periphery of the walls 17 of the anchor and engages notches 8 adjacent the lower end of the hooks and notches 8 in ribs 8 secured to the walls 17 of the anchor.

of a block 13' (see also Fig. 9). The said block is preferably made of material which is soluble in water such as sugar or rock salt, so that after the mine has been in the water for a predetermined length of time,

said block will dissolve and the spring. ring 12 will contract, thereby releasing the hooks and allowing the two portions of the mine to separate.

The manner in which the soluble block is ut into place is as follows: The upper and ower portions of the mine being assembled,

- the hooks 5 may be raised so as to engage lugs 7. This may be done by reaching through a hole 30 in the casing 2 of the upper portion of the mine. The rod 12 may then be spread so as to fit into notches 13, and the block 13 inserted between the caps 32 and 33 on the two ends of rod 12. A thm wire 34 may be fastened across the opening into the caps 32 and 33 where the block was inserted, to prevent said block from falling out. By providing right and left threads 35 and 36 on the ends of rod 12 where the caps 32 and 33 are screwed onto said rod, it will readily be seen that by turning the block 13, the rod may be spread so as to press firmlyagainst the hooks 5. It will be understood that I may dispense with wire 34, if desired by providing the retaining projections 3 around all sides of the caps, and putting the block 13 in place while the caps are screwed well up on the ends of the rod 12; then screwing the caps down until they engage said block and press said rod firmly into place.

In order to prevent rod 12 from falling upon and fouling the mechanism below it when it collapses to release the upper part of the mine, Imay fasten it to said upper part by means of short chains or cords 38.

After the buoyant portion and anchor portion of the mine have separated by the dissolving of block 13 and the resultant re-' leasing by hooks 5, the two portions are still tied together by means of lightcable 39, fastened at one end to a bail 40 on the lower extremity of the buoyant portion and preferably wound upon a reel 41, swiveled on an axle 42 in the anchor portion 3.

At a short distance below the buoyant portion, the cable 39 may be cut for the insertion of a vdetachable coupling 49 as shown,

to facilitate the possible future recovery of the mine and anchor. Such couplings are well known. in the art.

Below coupling 49, I have shown a weight 50, through which the cable 39 may pass as shown in Fig. 7. A sleeve 51 may-be securely fastened by means of solder or otherwise to the cable 39, while a pin 52 extending from the weight into said sleeve at 53 may serve to lock the weight to the cable. Pin 52 is attached to an arm 54, which arm is in turn pivotally fastened to weight 50 at 55. A spring 57 tends to press arm. 54 outwardly to withdraw pin 52, but is prevented from so doing by a pin 56 protruding through an extension 58 on the weight and engaging said arm. A spring 59 on arm 54 may by engaging a knob 60 on pin 56, prevent the pin from prematurely falling out. A cavity 61 is shown in the weight 50, closed by a valve 62 which is in turn fastened to arm 54. Before the mine is placed in the sea, pin 56 will serve to keep valve 62 closed against the pressure of spring 57. Also in deep water, the pressure of the water against the outside of plu 62 is suflicient to hold it closed against t epressure of the spring, so that pin 56 may then be removed. The manner in which this pin is removed is described hereinafter. Spring 57 however, is adjusted so as to exert sufficient pressure to overcome the pressure of water from without when the weight is brought to within a predetermined distance from the surface of the sea, so that arm 54 will be pressed outwardly to withdraw pin 52 and allow the weight 50 to drop, for the purposes hereinafter described.

Mines which depend upon being rotated by contact with or the SWlIl of a ship to effect an explosion are well known in the art. Such mines, however, must be of sufiicient diameter to guarantee their rotation. In order, therefore, to increase the effective diameter ofmy mine which is otherwise limited to the diameter of the ordinar torpedo tube, I have shown a plurality o resilient ribs 63, secured at their upper ends to the top of the mine in any suitable manner, such for instance, as shown in Fig. 11; the ribs being bent over at one end 64 and inserted into the top piece 65 of the mine, and held in place by a clamping plate 66. These ribs may be folded down against the top of the mine which may be depressed as shown at 67 so that the mine may be placed in the torpedo tube. The ribs may be bound in this position by a wire or cord 68, which may be cut or removed as the mine is being inserted into the tube. The tube will then hold the ribs down until the mine is ejected, whereupon, the ribs will assume the form of an open umbrella as shown by the dotted line position in Fig. 2". A light cable 69 is shown connected to the outer ends of all the ribs for the purpose of imparting rigidity to the umbrella structure when in the set position.

When the mine is ejected from the torpedo tube, it will immediately assume the position shown at A, Fig. 1, since the bottom is heavy and the top light, and start to sink. The anchor portion must be heavy enough to withstand the greater part of the tugging of the buoyant portion when acted upon by the rolling sea or tides after the mine is moored. Such a weight will cause the mine to sink rapidly when discharged. In order, therefore, to retard the sinking soas to avoid injury to any part of the mine when it strikes the bottom of the sea, I may partially cover the ribs 63 with any suitable fabric to act like a parachute.

Before or after the mine has struck the bottom, the soluble block 13' will have been dissolved by the water which is free to enter at 30 and 30 and the two portions of the mine will become unlocked as previously pointed out. The place of unlocking may be governed by the character of the soluble block used. I have shown this as having taken place after the mine has reached the bottom at C, Fig. 1.

The upper portion of the mine being provided with a large excess buoyancy wi 1 immediately start to rise toward the surface of the water. In mines of this character, it is usual to provide an inertia device designed to remain stationary while the rest of the mine is rotated by the swirl of a passing ship, thereby exploding the mine. For th1s purpose I secure to t e member 25 at the bottom of the buoyant portion an arm 72 comprising a rod 73 and a flat spring 74 (see Figs. 2, 10 and 15;) said sprlng being hinged to said rod at 75, and coiled within the walls 17 of the anchor portion. A sleeve 76 is shown upon the rod 73, pressed outwardly against the base part 78 of spring 74 by a spring 77 As soon as the said arm 72 is lifted free from the walls of the anchor, spring 74 straightens out, and spring 77 moves sleeve 76 over the base part 78 of flat spring 74 and holds it in the extended position, thus causing the whole arm to reach straight out laterally from member 25. This may be seen in Fig. 15. The flat spring 74 is shown edgewise in this view, instead of sidewise as in Fig. 2 The purpose and manner of accomplishing this change of position is as follows: In order to facilitate the coiling of the arm within the mine, it is placed with the edge up as in Fig. 2 In order to secure lateral rigidness when the mine is set, however, it is desirable to turn the spring edgewise. This may be accomplished by running rod 73 of the arm through member 25, Fig. 10, and securing the bail 40 rigidly to said rod, the bail being normally in a horizontal position,

Fig. 2. The cable 39 connect' the two portions 1s, as previously poin out, fastened to the said bail, so that when cable 39 is pulled down, the bail is drawn down into the dotted line position, Fig. 2 or the full line position as shown in Fig. 15. It will readily be seen that the whole arm will thus be turned.

Any suitablemeans may be employed to prevent couplin 49 and weight 50 from rolling about freely before the mine is launched. In Fig. 4, I have shown them tied down by wires or cords 78. Then the buoyant portion starts to rise, however, it will tear these parts loose and carry them up. i

A small chain 79is shown attached to pin 56, (see Fig. 7). The other end of this chain is fastened to the anchor at 80, Fig. 2". As

the weight rises the chain withdraws pin 56,

so that only hydrostatic pressure now prevents the unlocking and dropping ofweight 50. Position D, Fig. lshows the position of the various parts just before pin 56 is withdrawn.

Axle 42 upon which shown resting at one end in a bracket 43 attached to the anchor at 44, and protruding upward through -a plate 45 in said anchor. Fitting over the upper end ofsaid axle may be provided a locking member 46, having lugs 47 and 48 extending downwardly therefrom into holes 81 and 82 in plate 45, but stopping short of notches 83 in reel 41. Member 46 is held normally in this position by a shearing pin 84 passing through said member and the axle 42.

Cable 39 passes through a hole 85 in the top of axle 42, then out through the side thereof and down to reel 41.

The buoyant portion of the mine rises steadily until it reaches a predetermined distance from the surface, when, as previously pointed out, weight 50 drops down along cable 39 and strikes the top of looking member 46, shearing pin 84 and moving lugs 47 and 48 on said member 46 into notches 83 in reel 41, thereby locking the reel against further rotation so that cable 39 ceases to pay out and the buoyant portion is held at the desired depth. In or der to retard the speed at which the buoyant portion rises, so as to insure perfect working of all parts, as well as to give weight 50 suflicient time to drop into place by the time the mine reaches the desired depth, I have shown a cam like part 86, Figs. 2 and 5. fixed to the bottom of reel 41. A bracket 87 provided with rollers 88 and 89 is actuated reciprocally by the turning of reel 41. The piston rod 90 from a dash pot 91 is attached to bracket 87 to retard the movements thereof, thereby also retarding the turning of the reel and the rising of the buoyant portion of the mine. A

. o0 is swiveled reel 41, is

I 1 thereby closin I I I When the mine, is moored; the movements oi the sea cause it to sway about,'and while I I the anchor portion 3 is heavy. enough to, pre- I vent. the buoyant portion from rising, :I de- I I sire to provide means for preventing the 9.115 I I j chorj port-ion: from, being gradually dragged away. For this'purpose I have shown a mud tube.- I I Another means is also shown for securing f .mine is mgoored, (see-Fgi s2; and 6.) This -eomprises a hook 98', two parts 99 and -;100, pivotally secured at .1 02 to a .projec-g Mtion 1012111 the mass 94.; I Aplug103 serves to-hold the upperends of the hook apart,

. p the lower, ends over the shank 104; of t e-mud hook; I Arod105; at

tached' at i one end to plug: 103, I extends up;-

"Qyy'ardlyandl into axle 42. A pin l06 passes through locking member 46 and said rod 105, I

One form of firing mechanism for the ruins is illustrated in'detail in Fig; 3;

and is free, to move up and down through a I --s t 0:7 in said axle, When thezweight ,50

' moves member 46 downwardly as previously 3 described, it will be seen that rod 105 willy also move down and remove plug 103 from between the lips of the upper part of hook 98, so that the weight of the mud hook will spread the lower part of said hook and drop out. A spring 102' pressing against the opposite parts of hook 98 may be provided to aid in opening the hook when the plug 103 is removed. When the anchor portion of the mine is moved by the swaying of the buoyant portion, the mud hook will (see Fig. 1, position F) prevent it from being carried away.

Referrin now to the buoyant portion of the mine, t e upper chamber 109 may be empty so as to supply the buoyancy while the lower chamber 2 contains the explosive charge 2. The firing mechanism is contained within the tube reaching up into the charge from without the explosive chamber 2. At the bottom of tube 15 is a member 25. The manner in which said member is secured to tube 15 will be described presently; it being suflicient for the moment to state that a relative rotation of tube 15 and member will causethe actuation of the firing mechanism when cable 39 is pulling down on bail 4:0. This relative rotation is designed to take place when a ship engages or passes the mine causing it to rotate with tube 15,. while arm 72 reaching out from at itsouter endresists said rotation. I

I In order to prevent this relative rotation latio'nto tube 15 and .member I 25 respec :tively. I Fixed. to bail, is a pro'ection' 112 i resting normally under-$1 1109,- ig'. 2", but :when' the buoyant portion of the mine starts to rise and thebail'i's pulled downas pre thepin now ready to be withdrawn. AI sprmg113 fixed on projection 111 and press i ingagalnst pin 109, Figs.'10 and 15, may now serve to prevent the pin from fallin out before'itis time to withdraw it, as

I I I I I. prefer' to have the pin remain in p'lace while the mud hook withinthe recess 93 untll the .viously described, the said projection is swung out from under the pin, Fig.15, and

' ofLthe parts at anylstageprecedingthe Ic'om-= 3 pletion of. the mooring or the mine, {I have; Sli0WI1=;a' i pin 109, see. 'Fig.- i 15, passing j I through Projections 1 10 and 111 infixed re I the mine is rising toward the surface since any swing of the mine for arm would: tend to cause premature relative rotation; "A

chain 114; IS fastened at: one end'to pin 109 and at the'other end to weight' 50, position Fig p l. When the weight 50 drops the" pin is withdrawn, (position E, Fig. 1) and for the. time, the parts are free to'rotote wi h respect to each other; .As 'soon'as I I I the weight-reaches'the'bottom, the mine is finally set as at F, Fig; '1;

mounted the tube 15 as pointed out, which contains adjacent one end the detonating charge 16. The firing pin 18 normally rests harmlessly against seat 19, being held thereon by spring 20. The stem 21 of said pin is normally engaged near its lower end by one or more catches 22. The said catches are pivoted on a movable member 23 which is secured to a rod 24 projecting downwardly and without the explosive chamber 2. Member 25 is shown as threaded or otherwise secured to said rod and is provided at its top with a slot 26, see Fig. 8. Lugs 27 secured to a fixed extension 28 on casing 2 are'adapted to extend through said slot and to engage under the undercut portion when member 25 is rotated so as to hold the said member 25 in the upper position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

It will be readily seen that if member 25 is rotated so that lugs 27 come into alignment with slot 26, the two parts may be separated in the position shown in Fig. 3. This is done by the strong upward pull due to the excess buoyancy of the mine.

When in the act of separating the drawing pin 21 is pulled back to the position indicated compressing spring 20 and bein released when the catches 22 get beyon the end of the sleeve 29. Spring 20 thereupon drives the firing pin upwards with Within 1 the explosive chamber 2' is great force and explodes the charge. Firing mechanism of this character is well known and need not be further described.

In Fig. 15, I have shown the inertia device 108 as being hollow. This is not esseni the fiat spring 74.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 represent a modified form of hydrostatically controlled weight 50 for dropping upon the locking member 46 to check the rising of the mine. In this form the pin 52' is held in the locked position by a pin 115 on lever 116 pressing in upon the head 127 of pin 52. Lever 116 is held normally in the locked position (Fig. 12) by a bell crank lever 117 engaging said lever 116 at 118. The bell crank lever 13 held normally in this position by a locking pin 56 engaging a projection 119 on said lever. Thislever is pivoted at 120 to the weight while one end 121 engages a device 122 which is attached to the yielding wall of a resilient chamber 123 and is capable of .movement within the limits permitted by guide block 124. A spring 125 resting at one end against b ock 124 and at the other against device 122 tends to press said device outward, but is prevented from so doing by pin 56' which holds the bell crank lever in the locking position. When in deep water, hydrostatic pressure without the resilient chamber holds the device against the pressure of said spring 125, so that when pin 56 is withdrawn as in the other form, the various parts are still held locked. When the weight reaches the predetermined distance from the surface, however, the hydrostatic pressure will have decreased sufficiently to allow spring 125 to tilt the bell crank lever to the point where lever 116 becomes released. The pressure of spring 126 against the head 127 of pin 52' forces lever 116 into the position shown in Fig. 13. Pin 52' is thus withdrawn from sleeve 51 allowing the weight to drop.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus, which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted and some of the features of each modification may be embodied in the others without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mine adapted to be launched from a torpedo tube comprising a buoyant top portion adaptedto contain an explosive charge, an anchor portion detachably connected therewith, an'extensible connection between said two portions, a mass slidably connected to said connection, and means controlled by said mass for arming said mine.

2. The combination with a submarine mine, of normally inoperative firing mechanism therefor, an anchor for said mine, an extensible cable connecting said anchor and mine, a weight secured to said cable, means for releasing saidweight, and means controlled by said weight for rendering said mechanism operative.

3. In a submarine mine, a buoyant portion adapted to contain an explosivejch-arge,

a detachable anchor portion, a cable connecting said portions, and a flat resilient member coiled within said buoyant portion adapted to project outwardly into the water upon separation of said portions.

4. In a submarine mine, a buoyant portion adapted to contain an explosive charge, a detachable anchor portion, a cable conmeeting said portions, a fiat resilient member coiled within said buoyant portion adapted to project outwardly into the water upon separation of said portions, and means actuated by the pull of the anchor on said cable for turning said member edgewise.

5'. In a submarine mine, the combination with an explosive chamber, a firing pin therefor, a flat resilient member connected to said pin to release the same on relative rotation of said mine and said member, and means for turning said member edgewise as the mine is being planted.

6. In a submarine mine, an explosive member and an anchor therefor, an inertia device on said member, means for firing said explosive member on relative rotation of said member and said device, a weight adapted to be suspended from said member, hydrostatically controlled means for releasing said weight, and locking means controlled by said weight for preventing said relative rota-tion.

7 In a submarine mine comprising an explosive portion and an anchor portion, means for preventing said anchor portion from being dragged, means for locking said 'first mentioned means in a normally inoperative position, and means actuated by the mooring of said mine for unlocking said second mentioned means.

8. In a submarine mine, an anchor portion, a buoyant portion, and an auxiliary anchor attached to said anchor portion for confining the radius of movement of said anchor portion.

9. In a depth mine, a buoyant portion, an

anchor portion, a cable connectin said portions, a releasable weight on sai cable for limiting the paying-out thereof including a locking pin for securing said weight to said cable, resilient means for Withdrawing said pin, a catch for holding said pin depressed, a second catch for locking the first catch in the locking position, resilient means for ivithdrawing the second catch and hydrostatic means for overcoming the action of said means below a predetermined depth of water. i

10. In a depth mine, a buoyant portion, an anchor portion, a cable connecting said portions, a releasable Weight on said cable for limiting the paying-outthereof including a locking pin for securing said weight to said cable, resilient means for withdrawing said pin, a catch for holding said pin depressed, a second catch for locking the first catch in the locking position, resilient means for withdrawing the second catch, hydrostatic means for overcoming the action of said means below a predetermined depth of water, a locking pin for said second catch and means for withdrawing said pin on separation of said tWo portions.

11. In a submarine mine, a buoyant explosive portion, an anchor portion, a mooring cable connecting said portions, a fiat spring arm attached to said buoyant portion,

and adapted to occupy a coiled position, means for rotating said spring for changing its plane of flexibility, and firing mechanism adapted to be actuated by said spring.

12. In a submarine mine, a buoyant explosive portion, an anchor therefor, an arm attached to said buoyant portion and adapted to project therefrom, said arm being resilient in a horizontal plane relative to said buoyant portion, means actuated by the mooring of said mine for rotating said arm for rendering the same rigid in said plane, and firing means adapted to be actuated by said arm.

13. A submarine mine including a buoyant member adapted to contain an explosive, an anchor connected thereto by a cable, means for locking said member and said anchor together, means for unlocking the same, a flexible arm attached to said member, said arm being adapted to be coiled within said member and anchor when they are locked together and to assume an extended position when the buo ant member and anchor become separate and firing means controlled by sald arm.

14. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant explosive portion, an anchor portion therefor, means adapted to be rendered inoperative by the action of water for holding said portions together, a moorin cable connecting said portions, firing mechanism for said explosive portion including an inertia member coiled between said portions and adapted to uncoil when said portions become separated, said cable being connected to said member and adapted to turn the same about its longitudinal axis when the mine i is moored.

15. The combination with a submarine mine comprising a buoyant top portion, an anchor portion, means for holding said portions together until they reach the bottom of the sea, an extensible cable connecting said portions, a normally inefiective' auxiliary anchor attached to said anchor portion, and means for simultaneously fixing said buoyant portion in predetermined position and rendering said auxiliary anchor effective.

16. The combination With a submarine mine comprising a buoyant top portion containing an explosive charge, a normally inoperative firing mechanism therefor, an anchor portion, means for holding said portions together until the reach the bottom of the sea, an extensib e cable connectin said portions, a normally ineffective auxi iary anchor attached to said anchor portion for confinin the radius of movement of said anchor portion, and means rendered effective when said buoyant portion reaches a predetermined position for armingsaid mechanism, stopping unwinding of said cable, and rendering said auxiliary anchor effective.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

. ELMER A. SPERRY. 

